Atrial natriuretic Peptide expression in human articular cartilage.

This immunohistochemical study aims to investigate the Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-presence and localization in human articular cartilage. Fragments of articular cartilage covering the femoral head were removed from patients submitted to surgical operation after femoral neck fracture without joint disease. The samples were immunostained with anti-ANP antibody. The results demonstrate that ANP is present in chondrocytes in all the three zones of the articular cartilage. Superficial chondrocytes show strong ANP-immunopositivty. The presence of ANP in the articular cartilage suggests that ANP may play a role in cartilage metabolism by regulating transport of molecules through the different zones of the articular cartilage and in maintenance of its homeostasis; probably ANP could be also involved in the regulation of the balance between synovial fluid and the other body fluids.

Atrial natriuretic peptide and vasopressin-presence in the ciliary body of eye in the pig (sus domesticus).

The aqueous humor is produced in the ciliary body, therefore in this study we investigated the Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and vasopressin (VP)-presence in the ciliary body of the pig eye since these peptide are involved in the homeostasis of body fluids. The results show ANP-presence in the epithelial cells and in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels and VP-presence in the epithelial cells, in the endothelium of canal of Schelmm and in the muscle cells of the blood vessels. These peptides might regulate the synthesis and the composition of the aqueous humor and regulate the hydrodynamic flow and haemodynamic flow of the blood.

Predictors of early dropout in treatment for gambling disorder: The role of personality disorders and clinical syndromes.

Several treatment options for gambling disorder (GD) have been tested in recent years; however dropout levels still remain high. This study aims to evaluate whether the presence of psychiatric comorbidities predicts treatment outcome according to Millon's evolutionary theory, following a six-month therapy for GD. The role of severity, duration of the disorder, typology of gambling (mainly online or offline) and pharmacological treatment were also analysed. The recruitment included 194 pathological gamblers (PGs) to be compared with 78 healthy controls (HCs). Psychological assessment included the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III. The "treatment failure" group (n = 70) comprised PGs who prematurely dropped out of the treatment whereas the "abstinent group" (n = 124) included PGs who completed the treatment regardless of whether the outcome was successful or not. As expected, the presence of psychiatric comorbidities was highlighted as a significant predictor in dropping out of the therapy. Specifically negativistic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, drug dependence and PTSD were associated with early dropout. These variables were predictive of treatment outcome independently from the typology of gambling, severity, duration of the disorder and pharmacological treatment. Implications for psychological and psychiatric care are discussed.

[The use of continuous-infusion ketamine in pediatric anesthesia]. / L'impiego della ketamina in perfusione continua in anestesia pediatrica.

We are the results of anaesthesia by ketamine in continuous perfusion without any other anaesthetic, effected upon 173 patients who have undergone several kinds of surgical operations in paediatric surgery, for the research for such a drug best dosage, basing ourselves on clinical symptoms. For a correct anaesthesia the right dosage is of 0,40 mg/ml. At the same time we have been researching eventual morphological variations in relation to the basic tracing by means of E.C.G. intraoperating tracings.